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This short clip is a recap of the “Kushanku 1 Drill” (Kanku-Dai 1) that we covered during a seminar in Canada in June 2016. It is not a “technique” to be applied “as is” but a drill to permit the quick practise of the limb-control methods of the kata. These methods must also be drilled individually, in alternate ways and in live drills. This short clip cannot convey the entirety of what was covered at the event, nor can it show how the drill fits into the wider training methodology.

This video looks at the “Cup & Saucer” hand position found in Passai / Bassai-Dai & Kushanku / Kanku-Dai. The purpose of the moment is to locate the enemy’s head by following the arm back to the target. While the hand and arm are very mobile, the head is always right next to the shoulder. We can therefore locate the head, in the chaos of conflict, by following in the arm back to the head. For this method, the hand (fist or palm depending on style) is then placed on the head so a direct feel for the enemy’s head is established. The main strike is then delivered.

This video looks at the opening motion of Naihanchi kata (and quite a few others) where the hands come up and pivot down. The first arm motion represents a “cover and crash” to be applied if the initiative has been lost and the enemy is raining down strikes. We then clinch so that the enemy’s ability to rotate, and hence generate power, is limited. This buys us a moment to get back into the fight and regain the initiative.

This video covers a basic bunkai drill for shuto-uke / “knife-hand block”. Specifically, the drills overs the basic pass to be used should the initial strike to the neck be blocked. This section is part of a wider drill for the limb-control components of Passai / Bassai-Dai.

This video was filmed at a two-day seminar in Achim, Germany in May 2016. As always, these short clips can’t convey the totality of what was covered, or how what was covered fits within the wider training matrix. I nevertheless hope what is shown is of interest.

This video looks at the one-legged-stance to downward strike of Matsumora Rohai. The kata is frequently mislabelled as “Matsumura Rohai”. However, it is important to understand the kata comes to us from the Tomari-te line of Kōsaku Matsumora, and not Shuri-te line of Sōkon Matsumura. It would seem that the two martial artists have become confused and this has resulted in the widespread mislabelling of the kata.

In this video you can see a flow drill for some on the methods found within Naihanchi / Tekki-Shodan kata. The video covers a drill for the opening sequence and the “reinforced block” section.

The drill should be performed with plenty of movement and in a fluid way. It should look and feel a little “rough” such that it accurately reflects the nature of conflict and provides a solid stepping stone to live practise of the methods.

This video shows a bunkai flow drill for the first part of Seienchin (Seiyunchin) kata. It was filmed at a seminar in New Jersey in April 2016. It is possible to drill the entire kata in this way – which we did cover at the seminar – but we must remember that it is vitally important to drill the movements individually, in alternate order, and in a variety of other drills too if the kata is to be fully realised.

This video covers the bunkai for shuto-uke (“knife hand block”). The primary function of shuto-uke is to move us past the enemy’s limbs so that we can continue to attack and press home our advantage. Shuto-uke is therefore primarily a transitionary method.

This video shows the two core applications of shuto-uke (inside and outside versions), explains how they would be used in combat, and covers the habitual action that shuto-uke aims to instil.

This throw appears in Gichin Funakoshi’s 1935 book “Karate-Do Kyohan”. The throw is called “Tani-Otoshi” (valley drop) by Funakoshi; although it is more commonly known as “Ippon Seoi Nage” (one armed shoulder throw) in the wider martial arts world.